Making sure you get vacant posession

[pinksky]

We are completing next month and I am a bit worried that the sellers are going to leave things in the property. Is there any way that we can ensure they have cleared the loft/garage/shed etc before we move in? Or is there anything we can do if we find they have left stuff? We've had a problem with this before, and had to delay moving in so we could do a load of runs to the tip. Not ideal...

I had similar concerns as we bought a house with very full outbuildings.

My solicitor wrote it in specifically into the contract that they would be cleared and that we would be given access at exchange to check this had been done. Much easier to force them to do it before completion.

Worked well for us.

georgesawes, thanks for explaining what you did. I will ask our solicitor if they can do something similar. We could see if we could get access prior to completion, but I guess they will be moving out on the day.

If you have, say, a week between exchange and completion, it's best to have it written in to the contract that you inspect at exchange. That way there is still time to remedy it if not done, and in all honesty I think the fact we had it specifically written in and access to check made them clear the buildings. I don't think they would have if not.

Good suggestion, thank you. Stupidly I'm worried about p*ssing them off, but I can cope if they decide to leave the place filthy, I just don't want to deal with a garage full of stuff.

Seriously don't worry about that. They're meant to clear the property so you're only insisting on what you're entitled to.

We didn't do this for our first property and it cost us a lot of money to have the garden/house/outbuildings cleared. We were determined not to make the same mistake!

you're right. It's too important so I'll push it. Thank you

Bear in mind that local charities, especially hospices, will come and clear a house of anything sale-able, if things have been left behind. :)

Write in your contract that Completion monies will not be paid until vacant possession provided.